Spark plugs color-diagnosis?

Jorge022770 · Post by **Jorge022770** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:22 pm

Guys:

Although I have been too busy studying for the BAR (yup, it's two weeks away!!!) and therefor have had no playtime in the garage, I do start the engine once a week or so...

Before my "forced secluded life" I replaced the spark plugs like two months ago. Since then I have actually taken the car for a spin once, but started and reved the engine every one or two weeks. I removed plugs #2 and #4 to check them, and they are black. When I start the engine, I use the choke only to start the engine and disengage it within 10 seconds of start, then use the hand throttle to keep the revs around 2000rpm for about a minute, then releasing it. I don't leave the engine running at idle for too long either, just a few minutes altogether.

So, are the plugs black because I'm not driving the car, because I'm doing something wrong, or are there any other possible reasons?

Jorge

nismou20 · Post by **nismou20** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:42 pm

Jorge,

Visual checks of sparkplugs without subjecting the engine to loads under various rpm's for any length time is a poor way to evaluate performance. Go out and drive the car for about 20 min and I mean go thru the gears. Chances are that your mixture at idle is probably not the same as your mixture at WOT.

Tom

spyder · Post by **spyder** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:54 am

It's a carbureted engine. They tend to run rich. If you get 25 to 30 mpg don't worry. Mine is nowhere near stock and the plugs generally are dark but I still can get 22 mpg if I baby it.